Former Scottish National Party MSP for West of Scotland
The debate, as we all know, coincides with the day that some of us head off into retirement and will ourselves soon be labelled as older people. Anyone who was at Sir David Steel's dinner for retiring members last night would have to concede that we wrinklies still know how to party. By the sound of Ian Jenkins's speech, I do not think that he has been home yet.
I shall move swiftly on. Four days after the election, I will be the proud possessor of, in one hand, my state pension book and, in the other, my Strathclyde bus pass. The world will, of course, become my oyster. I do not expect to feel or look any different when I become 60 on 5 May, but I suspect that I will be treated differently. All the statistics indicate that I will experience age...
As I am not as literate as the English teacher who preceded me in the debate, and as I am Ayrshire lass, I will end by paraphrasing Robert Burns. Nae man can tether time or tide; the hour approaches, Kay maun ride.
To ask the Scottish Executive whether adequate resources are being applied to combat crime in North Ayrshire. (S1O-6622)
I remind the minister that new Labour has been in power since 1997. Can he explain why, since then, the incidence of violent crime in North Ayrshire has risen by 39 per cent, that of housebreaking has risen by 32 per cent and that of fire-raising and vandalism has risen by 50 per cent? Can he also explain why the number of drug offences has increased by a staggering 63 per cent over just...
To ask the Scottish Executive how many people suffer from Wegener's Granulomatosis; what the prescribed medication is for the illness; how many sufferers have to pay for their medication, and why some sufferers are receiving the necessary medication free.
I ask members to cast their minds back to their childhood. If that is far too long ago, they could cast their minds back to the childhood of their children or grandchildren. Can they remember the paintings that were brought home, sometimes still dripping wet, duly pronounced to be masterpieces and put on the wall for all to see and admire? What about the praise that was given to homework...
As an ex-social worker, I agree. We are dealing with children who are received into care because their family circumstances have led to their being damaged children. That is why we have to make life in the residential units as near as possible to life in a family home. However, no matter how well we succeed—and succeed we must—the problem remains that staff work shifts, need days off and...
